ENGLISH DIALECT AND IDIOM

Every country has their ‘official’ language . Likewise every country has location specific variations which may be simple accent derived pronunciation or sentence/grammar use or completely different

vocabulary .These variations also produce region specific phrases.

England is particularly blessed in this respect. Often regarded as uncouth and common (in an English elitist way) they offer a treasure trove of history, humour and interest.

This post is about those I’m familiar with from the northern county of Yorkshire. Some will be Yorkshire specific, some northern England specific and some just English.

For example: a narrow path between buildings in Leeds is a Ginnel, in Rochdale a Gennal (pronounced Jennel) and in Leicester a Jitty.

The following are often strange and crude, sometimes the words are conventional but used to describe things in a wonderfully quirky way others are amusing, many maybe familiar but all are a rich source of imagery to be valued and appreciated.

“ Pack it in or you’ll feel the back of my hand !” – which doesn’t seem much of a threat.

“You look like you’ve been dragged through a hedge backwards” – you’re scruffy

“Tha walks like dead lice are droppin off ya” – you walk really slow

“As bright as a sixpence in a sweeps arse “ my Grandad the poet

On seeing a young couple stealing a kiss driven by first love Nana would say

“ look at them daft buggers, swapping spit, they’ll be tuppin soon if they don’t knock it ont ‘ed’

( the kissing will lead to intercourse if they don’t stop) I’d like to point out how her use of words resembles Shelley or Byron but can’t.

On recalling how close his team had been to winning or when describing a very small amount Grandad would describe it as a ‘cock hairs width ‘ !!!!!

“As cold as a witch’s tit” are they cold ? I’ve no idea.

“less of the lip lad “ you try holding a conversation with minimum use of the lips.

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2 thoughts on “ENGLISH DIALECT AND IDIOM”

There is great beauty and humour in the English dialects Nigel. You can imagine the conversations in my house, I a Cumbrian and my good lady a Cockney. Tracing the origins of some of these dialects and the words is an interesting journey. Keep up the great posts marra.

I didn’t recall this when it showed up in ‘More in Voices…’ so I read it again, and as I read, some of it seemed familiar so I probably had read it before, but I enjoyed it again anyway, possibly even more. Love learning about you.

I am the "little armored one", moving gently through life. Hoping to safeguard my sensitivities with layers of words and the expression of thought. Shielding my mirror neurons at times, or tasting music and spinning till I'm dizzy. Every moment here is a gift.